Following her semi final performance against a strong opponent, we were ready for a repeat from Jolina REINHOLD (GER) who scored yuko in the first exchange against Hanna BABULFATH (SWE) in the -57kg final. Securing the top place with some sublimely timed te waza and evidence that Reinhold was a strong winner today.
It feels amazing, I wanted this medal so much and when I woke up I felt like it was my day so I just went for it! At the beginning of the year, my main goal was to come to EYOF, because you only get one chance, so I was happy that I got this competition, so I felt I needed to make something out of the opportunity.
With such a perfect performance, preparation must have been strong?
The preparation actually didn’t start so well, because I tore my thumb, but I suppose it isn’t so bad. We had a training camp last week in Hanover, Germany, we have an exchange with the French team so I had good randori.
There was no way to predict the result of the semi final as the pair had never faced one another,
I actually didn’t know her first, then I saw her contest against the Moldovan athlete, and then again on JudoTV, I watched her big throws and I was scared of her! Then once I had the waza ari I felt confident, I felt it was mine and I felt good. I knew I couldn’t get close to her because she would throw me for ippon, no waza ari or yuko, it would be over.
It was a completely different situation when it came to the gold medal contest against Tara BABULFATH (SWE) though,
I know Hanna, she is very strong and I fought her in the Teplice training camp and competition in Berlin. I know what she does and what her coach was advising her to do against me, but I knew I had to do more and have a lot of power, to make sure she couldn’t get the grip. I thought to myself I just need to power in, get my grip first and that’s all I needed.
I know this is only one step, the ultimate goal is of course the Olympics, it’s the main thing I want. This has definitely been different to other competitions, we had the opening ceremony and I was lucky enough to be the flag bearer, and many people say it’s just another competition, all the same people, but it’s really not, it has a different name, feeling.
Photo: Instagram @jolina.reinhold57
My coach reminded me of my passion today, I really try to enjoy it and want to have fun, and before the final I felt so motivated, I love winning. After I saw the Polish judoka, Julia, win, I knew I wanted this feeling too! I felt that no one could take it away from me. My coach is like my father to me, we have a very special bond, he has coached me since I was three years old. He is the person I can tell everything and I know he would do anything for me, he travelled here for me and my team mate yesterday and he will go back home tonight. He is very proud, he told me if I lost he would cry, and if I won… he would also cry!
Team Germany have now completed their collection with gold, silver and bronze, additional medals from Hannah GLAUNER (-52kg) and Konstantin DISTEL (-81kg)
Judoka
Author: Thea Cowen